Sandy Historical Society New Exhibit Available Here for Limited Time

By Abby Haney

Image taken by Peter Marbach of a faris wheel at the RoseCity Festival located in Portland that takes place for several weeks. This is one of many photos Marbach took for the Pursuit of Happiness. 

The Sandy Historical Society contains exhibits that showcase different historical figures, landmarks and items that tell the history of Sandy. In the beginning of September, the Sandy Historical Society added a new exhibit to their collection, the Pursuit of Happiness, which was lent to them by the Oregon Historical Society; it will remain available for viewing until after New Year’s. 

The Pursuit of Happiness exhibit is a collection of photos of different communities and cultures in Oregon taken by Peter Marbach. Marbach is an acclaimed photographer who was contracted for the exhibit by the America 250 Oregon Commission, a commission that started for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States’ Declaration of Independence. 

“We hired Oregon’s best landscape photographer to capture photos of celebration around Oregon,” Oregon Historical Society Boyle Family Executive Director, Kerry Tymchuk said. 

Pursuit of Happiness is a traveling exhibit that finds homes in places that share history, such as museums and the Oregon State Fair. With the work of the skillful photographer Marbach and people who request to hold the exhibit, the beauty of Oregon’s communities are showcased around the state. 

“[The goal is] Just to bring more communities together. Every corner of the state is divided and shows how it’s united,” Tymchuk said. 

Sandy Historical Society requested this exhibit in order to expand the museum’s offerings. Many changes have begun in the museum, The Pursuit of Happiness exhibit being one of them. 

“As the museum moves forward and expands to different kinds of stories we are telling I felt the Pursuit of Happiness exhibit was a great transition and introduction into expanding museum offerings and including more different voices,” Executive Director Nicole O’Neill said. 

A wall of images Clackamas County Bank put together for their 100 year anniversary in 2011. They donated it to the Sandy Historical Society for the Pursuit of Happiness exhibit which will remain available for viewing until New Years.

While the Pursuit of Happiness focuses on all of Oregon, the Sandy Historical Society focus is on Sandy. In order to make it relevant locally, the historical society looked at local businesses and asked them to lend historic artifacts. 

“It has been a great community outreach and educational tool. Every time I talk to a group they start by telling me they don't have anything historical and when we start talking about the 80s, 90s or 00, show how it is history and they get excited and interested,” O’Neill said. 

Sandy’s history began with the Oregon and Barlow trail however, it didn’t end then. History is always being made through time and Sandy citizens today are shaping Sandy history. 

“Sandy is more than the early pioneer families. The museum is for everybody in Sandy now. They [businesses] are building the community we have today. They belong in the museum,” O’Neill said. 

The Pursuit of Happiness focus is on showcasing celebration and, of course, happiness. Sandy Historical Society decided to add to it by asking the question “what brings you happiness?” The artifacts businesses lent to localize the exhibit show what in Sandy brings them happiness. 

“It is more than about what brings people joy. It turns into what they bring into the community,” O’Neill said. 

Sandy Action Center was one of the many businesses that lent an object for this exhibit. They are a pillar in the community and are spreading the word out in order to help more people. 

“I think it’s a really interesting project and we’re always looking for ways to promote the mission of the action center,” Pitzer said. 

They gave a document stating the purchase of their current building they reside in, which was originally the Sandy Post Office. Its history showcases their own beginnings that gave them and others happiness since they were able to expand to reach more people. 

“I think it’s a really cool thing to show it’s a piece of history that’s not really that long ago,” Pitzer said. 

Image of the document donated by the Sandy Action Center that is located in the Sandy Historical Museum for the Pursuit of Happiness exhibit. The building in the document was the Sandy Post Office and is now the permanent residence of the Sandy Action Center. 

Businesses weren’t the only people who supported the Pursuit of Happiness exhibit. Lenora Kipps, a citizen of Sandy for many years, passed away recently. Her daughter saw the Sandy Historical Society as a great place for her memorial by asking people to donate at the society. The money gained from these donations allowed for improvements within the museum such as the exhibit to help persevere and share more history. 

“She asked people to make donations to honor her,” O'Neill said. 

Visit the Sandy Historical Society to see the photos and artifacts that show Sandy’s history along with other communities in Oregon and other’s answers to “what brings them happiness?”

Abby Haney is the Editor-In-Chief at Sandy High School for the Pioneer Press and is a writer at large for The Sandy Historical Society.